"taps"

NSK Bearings Europe Ltd, based in the market town of Newark, was looking for an office washroom refurb and specified KWC DVS products for the project. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, carried out the upgrade with the instalment of a wide range of practical and modern KWC DVS products, including our Miranit washtroughs and our ‘high speed’ hands-in dryer. • 1 x SOLX1800T Washtrough with three wash places and tap holes • 1 x SOLX2400T Washtrough with four tapholes • 5 x CHRX670 Jumbo toilet roll holder • 4 x DRY600 Hands-in dryer The company were looking for a contemporary and clean look with efficient water facilities. Our Miranit washtroughs are made of a highly durable, shatter-proof resin bonded material granite. They are aesthetically pleasing, making them the perfect solution for those requiring a stylish and reliable product. Our DRYX600 hands-in dryer is sensor operated with a drying time of 7-10 seconds, making it perfect for commercial environments where hygiene and water saving are essential. Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented, “We work with KWC DVS regularly and can always trust them to provide quality products. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together, and we would consider them one of our most trusted partners. Their Miranit composite range is excellent for completing various projects and complimented the timeless, natural-looking aesthetic that we created for the NSK Bearing washroom.”

The project was part of a major regeneration plan to deliver around 650 flats, commercial floorspace, off-street parking, communal courtyards, landscaped and rooftop gardens, and a range of other facilities and amenities for residents to experience and enjoy.As the project involved high rise buildings, the first thing was to conduct a wind uplift assessment to determine the risk of strong winds and recommend the right solution to guarantee the safety of all occupants and residents. The survey revealed that there was a 2.16k N/m2 uplift force on the horizontal surfaces of the project so to guarantee a safe and secure installation we delivered our TerraSmart Rail Paving System with the Visual Wind Uplift Fixing option.TerraSmart Rail features super-strong aluminium joists, which overlap to create a lattice framework that offers the maximum level of support for pavers, in any application, especially high trafficked communal areas. The Visual Wind Uplift Fixing option, which has been successfully tested to withstand uplift equivalent to gusts more than 200 mph, is supplied with discreet flange headed screws and washers to secure the paving to the rail system via bespoke tapped holes. On application, these clamp the paving to the rails and provide a successful countermeasure against the effects of wind uplift during adverse weather conditions.The high-quality accommodation that is characteristic of this regeneration project, offers residents roof terraces, segmented into individual private gardens, with fantastic views of the city for a safe and truly unforgettable experience.

GEC Anderson stainless steel worktops were recently specified by Architects, Dannatt Johnson within the new Learning Spaces and Tea Points within the historic and acclaimed museum. Working for kitchen and bathroom specialists, Brandt Kitchens, GEC Anderson supplied and installed a total of four areas, all within the remit of main contractor, Buxton Building.  Bespoke stainless steel worktops were deployed in two Tea Point and two Learning Spaces. GEC Anderson were able to meet the special detailing requirements prescribed for the various units. 5.0mm SolidTop worktops were specified for the Tea Points that included double sinks and provision for Zip hot water taps and drip trays. In the Learning Spaces, made to measure sink tops with lipped edges and integral back upstands were located in ‘hide away’ areas, behind sliding door sections of the rooms. Managing Director of GEC Anderson comments “This was a really nice project to have been involved with and, actually, is a great showcase of some of the many options that we are able to offer. For instance, in the Learning Space on Level 2, special sized sink bowls were required to fit within the bespoke [narrow] space available, whilst at the same time having space for our lipped edge detail (3) at the front and sides of the worktop perimeter, as well as our upstand edge (10) at the back.  Meanwhile, in the Tea Points, we had the exiting new 5.0mm SolidTops (solid stainless steel, as opposed to the normal, folded, edges). The result of using this detail is always striking with its slim simplicity of form.”

The UK’s largest water and waste company is aiming for savings of £500,000 over the next three years in the supply and installation of security fencing and gates across its estate that supplies water to over 14 million people.However, given the risk of accidental pollution, theft and mindless vandalism, safety and security must not be compromised in making the savings across its 600 sites that supply 2,600 million litres of tap water and treat more than 4 billion litres of sewage per day.The SolutionThames Water Utilities chose Zaun as one of four appointed contractors for their three-year framework agreement for the supply and installation of security fencing and gates, with an option to renew for a further two years, worth around £2 million, and one of three for their ongoing maintenance.Thames is looking for savings and the benefits of dedicated account management, certified and experienced perimeter protection designers, engineers and technicians, access to new and innovative products and robust management reporting linked to an exacting service level agreement. Zaun proved its reputation with Thames Water during its multi-billion pound London Tideway improvements to create a cleaner healthier River Thames, on which Zaun addressed some complex planning issues and security needs. Zaun designed, manufactured and installed its ArmaWeave, the highest-rated single panel fencing solution for defending against forcible attack. This solution meets Thames’ security requirements and enables certain installation concerns to be mitigated.Zaun has also put in Axiom, turnstiles, vehicle barriers and pedestrian access control across the Thames’ estate.

Artform Urban Furniture supplies a range of specified bottle refill water fountains to Manchester city centre's first new public park in more than 100 years.Mayfield park sees the transformation of a vast, mostly derelict, former industrial site next to Piccadilly Station into a stunning, accessible and varied green space for all to enjoy. The 6.5-acre park surrounds the banks of the River Medlock and features green lawns and gardens with trees and shrubbery, as well as walkways for the public to use and a large children's play area.The site has an industrial history of innovation spanning back to the 1700’s and the park landscape recognises this by utilising old industrial rusted cast iron relics from the mills as sculptures that are dotted around the space.The Fuente Fountains in Corten steel were specified by Studio Egret West for the project, to match the surrounding industrial aesthetic of the park.The fountains have been placed across the park to provide accessible water refilling stations for visitors to use and reduce plastic waste. Water fountains are becoming a popular choice in urban spaces with developers recognising a push needed towards reducing plastic waste. The Fuente Fountain is available in a variety of shapes and finishes as well as a version with an additional tap lower down with a stainless steel bowl for dogs.Mayfield Park is part of a £1.4bn development that will continue over the next decade and will eventually completely transform the whole surrounding area near Piccadilly station into a vibrant new neighbourhood - delivering 1,500 homes, 1.6m sq ft of commercial space, as well 300,000 sq ft of retail and leisure.The park opened to the public in September 2022 and is a welcome addition to the city centre bringing a much-needed oasis of green space for local residents, visitors and communities across Manchester.

Hindu Temple & Community Centre, Nottingham, looked for a washroom revamp and specified Franke products for the project. Inspired Washrooms, a Nottingham based fit-out company, executed the project by installing a wide range of Franke products. The three-week programme included the installation of Franke Miranit washbasins and accessories from the Rodan range. The full range of products provided was: ·       2 x ANMW431 Quadro triple washbasins ·       6 x F3SV1001 FS3 self-closing pillar taps·       9 x CHRX669  Jumbo toilet roll holders ·       5 x RODX618 RODAN soap dispensers for wall mounting ·       4 x F1390 AIRBLAST hand dryers (white) The Temple, based in the City of Nottingham, was developed in the early 1970s and has since evolved into an establishment covering a wide range of activities promoting the Hindu ethos. These activities range from Religious, Cultural, Social, Festive, Educational and Charity events to Yoga practice.Miranit washbasins are ideal for busy areas such as community centres. Miranit is a shatter-proof, resin bonded mineral granite material and provided a robust and aesthetically pleasing solution to the project. Miranit is cast in a single mold with no adhesive seams or joints and offers high stability and high durability while keeping a contemporary style.  Chris Kightley, Managing Director of Inspired Washrooms, commented ‘‘We work with Franke regularly and can always trust them to provide us with quality products. Over the years, we have worked on many projects together, and we would consider them one of our most trusted partners. Their range Miranit composite washroom basins are excellent for various projects that we complete, and the Rodan accessories angular side profiles complement the contemporary décor of the washrooms”.

Here at Symphony, we pride ourselves on leading the way in design and manufacture innovation. We are also always ensuring that sustainability is at the forefront of everything we do. That’s why we were thrilled to work with Barratt Developments to create the first zero carbon home concept from a major housebuilder. The Zed HouseWith carbon neutral homes being such a hot topic, with everything from the move to heat pumps to electric car charging at home, we were honoured to be invited to work with leading housebuilder Barratt Developments on its unique and flagship zero carbon home concept. The Zed House will be the first new home in the UK built by a major housebuilder to go beyond the new Future Homes Standard by delivering a carbon reduction of 125%. The Future Homes Standard ensures that all new homes built from 2025 will produce 75-80% less carbon emissions than homes under current regulations. The carbon reduction of 125% is from 100% regulated and 25% unregulated energy using heat recovery, low carbon and renewable technologies. The Zed House will be lived in and monitored over time in order to assess its performance on an ongoing everyday basis. We can’t wait to see the results.The future of housebuildingDesigned and developed to show what is achievable for the housebuilding market in terms of sustainability, the Zed House is a great example of how our homes could look in the next few decades. At Symphony we have a constantly evolving list of eco credentials that we use in everything we do. How this project worked is that Barratt challenged its supply chain partners to bring in the most cutting-edge products to help reduce its carbon footprint. We chose our Urban kitchen in Grey Walnut, as the door and drawer fronts are made from 100% recycled chipboard and the handles contain renewable coconut fibre. Not only that but the cabinets are also made from 49% recycled board while cutlery trays and drawer storage are all Hemp and Kenaf based. We thought this was the perfect example of how kitchens can be a sustainable and environmentally friendly purchase without sacrificing style. The stainless-steel sink from Franke was chosen as it contains 80% recycled materials and was supplied with a waste disposal unit that processes organic waste to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill. The Insinkerator 4 in 1 tap supplies filtered water to reduce the need to purchase bottled water and therefore encourages the reduction of single use plastic. It also replaces the need for a kettle by providing boiling water, which reduces both energy usage from boiling a kettle but also only provides the amount of boiling that is required. The appliances were also selected for their sustainability credentials including energy efficiency and minimising water use. The worksurface is a carbon neutral material from the Sunlit Days collection from Silestone by Cosentino, the first carbon neutral quartz range in the engineered stone industry that contains recycled glass and minerals. Eco buildThe Zed House itself is made from a closed panel timber frame with highly insulated cladding. It also includes EV charging points, PV solar panels and battery storage. The interior comes with infra-red electronic hands-free taps, reducing water consumption by up to 80%, and a smart electric tariff that automatically moves energy usage to access the cheapest rates. EV charging pointWith more and more people looking to swap their fuel-guzzling car to an efficient electric model, the Zed House also comes with its own EV charging point. The Zed House is located on the main campus at the University of Salford. It contains a knowledge hub built into the garage to display all the products, technologies and results of the home’s occupation on an ongoing basis. We are thrilled to have been a part of this exciting project and can’t wait to see what the future holds.Further informationHead to https://www.barrattdevelopments.co.uk/showcase/z-house for more information on Barratt Homes and www.symphony-group.co.uk/sustainability for more information on Symphony’s sustainability credentials.

Armourcoat’s latest decorative surface finishes have been used to stunning effect in the recently renovated Matilda Bay Restaurant in Perth, WA.Situated right on the banks of the picturesque Swan River, with sweeping views of the city skyline, the Matilda Bay Restaurant offers fresh, local produce and modern Australian and seafood dishes with a creative twist. The restaurant and function centre have also become known as a showcase for local timber, stone and artisan craft.The vibrant new interior, created by Karlee Boucher of KADA interior design, is fresh and contemporary. Welcoming diners into the restaurant, an Armourcoat Sculptural feature wall in a ‘Flow wave’ design creates a dramatic and original design statement. The ‘wave’ design is continued with a longer wall into the dining space. Sculptural seamless contoured wall surfaces offer impactful designs with cast relief. Each signature design is created from cast GRG (Glass-fibre Reinforced Gypsum) panels, CAD generated to enable a continuous pattern or unique decorative effect.Throughout the restaurant, the use of ArmourColor Perlata architectural coatings provides a sophisticated shimmer effect and subtle backdrop to the architectural detailing. Columns within the ground floor Catalina Room have also been decorated with textured plaster in a ‘Travertine’ finish. Hand-applied by artisan craftsmen from The Polished Plaster Company, the finish creates a light open texture and gives the appearance of natural travertine stone. The Polished Plaster Company is the appointed agent and applicator of Armourcoat finishes in Western Australia. Nigel Goldsmith, Managing Director commented, “The specification of these modern decorative finishes; echo the local crafts, with their ancient roots and skilled application. The new Sculptural finish is also right on trend, tapping into current designs using 3D forms”. The Polished Plaster Company is pleased to present their Armourcoat showroom in nearby O’Connor, which can be viewed by appointment. Photogrpahy © Silvertone Photography

About the project:Dublin Doors are a distributor of door leafs to door manufacturers throughout Ireland. Since Brexit, the market in Ireland requires the EN 1634-1 fire testing standard, as opposed to the previously accepted the British Standard BS 476. A customer of Dublin Doors wanted an overhead concealed door closer combined with 44mm thick doors, and it had to pass the EN fire testing standard.The specification of the doors was: (A) 44mm PB hardwood lipped all round door (B) 38mm PB core faced with 3mm mdf, routed with 2mm decorative groove in the faceDublin Doors were very aware that EN testing is widely considered to be more onerous than BS testing. The inclusion of a drop seal was also a point of concern - many companies have found that using drop seals to control smoke can appear to make the fire test harder to pass, with some experiencing prolonged flaming at the threshold. Rutland was able to help by providing its concealed closer ITS.11204, which can be used in 44mm fire doors – one of only a handful of concealed closers on the market that can do this. Rutland was also able to tap into its network of experts and consultants to discuss possible options, to help Dublin Doors to arrive at a combination that met the specification, and was most likely to succeed in the test. Dublin Doors were also required to write a Pre-Test Verification (PTV) before the test – a requirement at many test labs now. Rutland used its expertise in compliance to help complete this specification.The outcome:The results were excellent, with both doors lasting 49 and 51 minutes respectively in the fire test, for what was a 30-minute FD30 doorset, the more onerous European standard EN 1634-1 to achieve – E30. In our experience of fire testing, this is an excellent result for a 44mm solid timber door, and the Rutland team were just as pleased as Dublin Doors that the door, along with its concealed closer, passed with flying colours.

After 20 years in its Judd Street office in London’s Kings Cross, the Royal National Institute of Blind People recently moved to a new head office that better suited the charity’s evolving needs. The Grimaldi Building, a characterful self-contained office, serves as the charity's new London hub. Months of detailed planning and a thoughtful fit-out was required to ensure the new office facilities met the needs of all the RNIB employees and visitors. Understandably, accessible drinking water was a top priority."Zip HydroTaps have been used on a number of our projects and I have always found the team at Zip very willing to engage and explore a variety of user needs, which is really helpful – accessibility, clarity and ease of use is always a primary consideration for all our projects" Jean Hewitt, Inclusive Designer | Buro HappoldThe briefAn essential amenity in the workplace, the RNIB needed to provide staff, visitors and volunteers with easy access to both boiling and chilled drinking water, for hot and cold beverages. Integrated consulting engineers and advisers Buro Happold had their inclusive design expert Jean Hewitt on hand to support the RNIB with the Grimaldi building refurbishment, advising on accessibility. Her primary focus was ensuring that the building design considered those with sight loss and with this in mind, began her search for a drinking water system that was as inclusive as possible.The solutionOur HydroTap Accessibility range is designed specifically to support visually impaired, wheelchair and limited dexterity users. Jean chose to specify two HydroTap Accessibility models that provide instant filtered boiling and chilled drinking water. “I was attracted by the accessibility features, such as very clear colour coding and easy grip extended ‘ears’ for people who may have reduced dexterity and grip. The inclusion of tactile and Braille markings makes the use of the tap more intuitive for everyone,” explains Jean.The results"Zip HydroTaps have been used on a number of our projects and I have always found the team at Zip very willing to engage and explore a variety of user needs, which is really helpful – accessibility, clarity and ease of use is always a primary consideration for all our projects"Jean Hewitt , Inclusive DesignerBuro Happold

AbleStay Holiday HomeFor anyone considering accessible accommodation in London, you may be interested to hear more about AbleStay, London’s first accessible holiday home situated near Worcester Park, South West London. The house is fully adapted for wheelchair access and has a bright open plan kitchen, dining and living area.The AbleStay mission is to deliver fully accessible and adapted holiday homes in cities across the UK, providing families with confidence their accommodation will provide a perfect and beautiful environment for their stay.Freedom by Symphony KitchenDesigned by Adam Thomas Consultancy, and Tara Neil kitchen Retailer, the AbleStay house features our Freedom by Symphony Kitchen and has various universal and accessible design features ensuring a safe, practical and stylish kitchen space.A rise and fall adjustable height worktop with integrated waterfall edge to limit spillages. Visitors to the holiday home can set a safe and convenient height to use the Induction hob, sink and front mounted tap, which is all situated on the same run of worktop. The full length of the rise and fall worktop also provides open leg space and a shallow sink bowl providing full accessibility for wheelchair access.There is a pull-out accessible larder, eliminating the need to bend and reach down into the back of cupboards to find cooking items. Instead, all items are within reach and clearly visible so are easy to find quickly and safely.  Two Luxurious Slide&Hide® Neff ovens have been installed featuring doors which can be hidden beneath when using the oven. Accessible oven housings also position the ovens at a comfortable height and have the benefit of heatproof shelfs, so food can be transferred out of the oven straight onto the resting shelves; allowing hot dishes to cool before transferring to the worktop space.Founder of AbleStay Freedom by Symphony are thrilled to have worked on such an exciting project with Charles Van Berckel, founder of AbleStay: “the support provided by Adam Thomas and the team at Symphony enabled us to provide a truly beautiful and functional kitchen for wheelchair users. Without their kind and generous support it would never have been possible”